How Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects UK private pilots

During the current crisis, there has been a stream of notices, advice and guidance from the CAA, EASA and pilot organisations. It can be difficult to filter out the specific issues that affect private pilots, i.e. those with PPL, LAPL etc. and also spot what’s missing. It’s very easy to mix these up with derogations for commercial pilots. The CAA provided some exemption guidance in a simpler and easier to digest summary format in CAP 1946.

The length of the lockdown and other restrictions has led to many pilots having flown less and becoming much less current. The CAA issued some fairly generous exemptions and extensions during the first lockdown in 2020 but these have become more strict or not been renewed. Many pilots can expect (and would seek) some de-rusting or even a proficiency check once flying activities resume.

I’ve tried to simplify and clarify the key points below. This is a fairly fast changing situation, so while I have done my best you should beware that the statements below may already be incorrect or out of date.

Where can you fly?

Since 12 April 2021, government guidance permits private flights including flight instruction for leisure pilots. Passengers can be carried (within your household bubble) and landaways are allowed.

Foreign travel for leisure purposes is banned, although crew flying abroad in the course of their work are exempt. Flights are allowed between England, Scotland and Wales but at the time of writing not in/out of Northern Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man. This is likely to be relaxed in the coming months.

SEP revalidation requires fewer flying hours

Schemes introduced in 2020 allowed pilots to extend their ratings by a few months with just a ground briefing. LAPL holders had their running expiry window extended from 24 to 32 months.

Both of these exemptions no longer apply.

A separate initiative was introduced during the winter of 2020 with the intention of making it cheaper, albeit more complex, where the UK CAA will allow those with 8 or more hours flown in the previous year to revalidate if they’ve had up to 1.5 hours instruction with an FI/CRI and recorded more take-offs and landings. The full details are found in ORS4 1484 and ORS4 1485. This scheme is temporary but was extended until 31 July 2021.

For those who return to flying with an expired rating, then a short flight with an examiner will be required. This is a proficiency check rather than a skill test and can/should include some element of instruction. Although many pilots prefer to avoid anything considered a test, perhaps combining this with a general de-rusting/club check may be no bad thing. After all, the proficiency check is permitted to include some element of instruction.

Medical Certificate expiry dates no longer extended

During 2020, some extensions were granted for Medical Certificates. These have now time expired and won’t be replaced. Most AME’s are now operating again with extra safety measures, and issuing Class 1, 2 and LAPL medical certificates.

The CAA introduced an online medical system on 1st April 2021, requiring all pilots to register on the CAA Portal and apply for their medical online (and pay a small fee) before visiting the AME. The rest of the normal fee is then paid directly to the AME after the examination. The online portal is also used to make any new Personal Medical Declarations (currently free of charge).

Fly VFR within the UK on a LAPL Medical or Personal Medical Declaration

The CAA is encouraging leisure pilots who don’t require a Class 2 to make use of either the longer duration of LAPL medical proficiency or a Personal Medical Declaration. For those who are not flying abroad (including the Channel Islands), instructing or flying IFR, either of these enable any PPL to fly with LAPL privileges – effectively any VFR flight in aircraft up to 2 tonnes within the UK. Your SEP rating must remain valid.

The PMD was introduced in 2016 and allowed PPL and LAPL holders to avoid the need to visit an AME. Provided they are healthy enough to drive a commercial truck and don’t suffer from one of a specific range of ailments, then can self-declare themselves as such. A one-off declaration is valid until aged 70, thereafter every three years. There is no cost to make a declaration which must now be done through your personal account on the CAA Portal. You must print out and carry the resulting declaration document with you alongside your pilot licence.

These cannot generally be used for flights outside the UK or for instructors/solo training or for IFR. There is an exception (isn’t there always) whereby they are valid for IFR on Permit Aircraft within the UK, but there aren’t many of those.

The PMD is valid for both Part 21 (formerly known as EASA) and non-Part 21 (typically known as Permit) aircraft. The latest exemption [ORS4 1487] is valid until 30 April 2022 by which time it is expected to be embedded in the standard regulations.

UK PPL and NPPL again valid for Part 21 aircraft

Having left EASA, the term for most certified aircraft has changed from EASA Aircraft to Part 21 Aircraft. Examples include the popular Cessna 172, Piper PA28, Diamond DA40 and Cirrus.

In the days before pan-European regulations and licences from JAR and EASA, the UK simply issued its own ICAO compliant licences. These older UK PPLs remain valid even today, although most pilots would have converted.

The UK chose to issue their own national UK PPL licence when EASA licences were introduced, arguing that these were required to hold any non-EASA ratings. It has caused a lot of confusion, duplication and excessive bureaucracy. I can’t say I’m aware of any UK specific ratings that need this anymore, and with hindsight perhaps it has been a complexity that perhaps could have been avoided.

We also have the inconveniently named NPPL (National PPL Licence), which was a forerunner of the European LAPL. These can host a microlight rating (which is what most micropilots would have) and/or an SSEA rating (which allows the holder to fly a larger fixed wing aircraft).

Between April 2020 and March 2021, none of the above three types of licence (either type of national PPL or NPPL) could be used to fly a Part-21 aircraft. This privilege was restored on 5 March 2021 through exemption [ORS4 1471], so any of UK NPPL, UK PPL, UK CPL or UK ATPL can again be used to fly any aircraft, whether Part 21 or not, provided you hold a valid rating and medical.

Restrictions are similar to those for Personal Medical Declarations, namely:

• UK and Crown Dependencies only
• VFR (Day or Night)
• Not when acting as Flight Instructor or solo student
• No introductory flights/trial lessons
• No Cost Sharing or commercial flights

Aircraft Maintenance Regulations

There have been no alleviations or extensions for maintenance timescales. Aircraft Annuals, ARCs, 50 hour services (which also have a six month timeframe) all continue to apply. Your aircraft may not be legal to fly even if it has few hours since last service.

A significant change came into effect for light aircraft during March 2020, with the introduction of Part ML. For those flying private operations in aircraft less than 1200kg only (i.e. not flight training or commercial operations), this has less impact.

However, all flight schools and those owners of aircraft 1200kg or more will need to develop their own AMP (Annual Maintenance Program) and have this approved by their CAMO or CAO. An ARC (Annual Review Certificate) may not be able to be issued without one.

Many CAMOs may choose to downgrade to CAOs, which have fewer requirements but retain the most useful privileges required for general light aviation aircraft including ability to approve an AMP.

This is quite a complex change but has been poorly communicated to engineers and owners, so do read up on it and study the implications during the transition.

For those with Permit Aircraft, the LAA issued a statement about Permit Renewal which continues to operate by post as before. Permit Test Flights would of course be another matter entirely.

Students

PPL and LAPL students will have found that e-Exams were introduced on 5 October 2020. You should, if you haven’t already, apply for a login ID on the UK CAA Portal so that you can register for e-Exams in future. It typically takes about five days to process a new registration.

The maximum period of 18 months to pass all your PPL/ATPL theory exams remains – an earlier extension was not renewed.

Last Updated 21 April 2021